Some prominent former Astros will be in the postseason, including closer Brad Lidge of the Philadelphia Phillies and second baseman Jeff Kent of the Dodgers. Those two gave Houston some great postseason memories. Kent’s walk-off three-run homer in Game 5 of the 2004 National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals remains one of the greatest home runs in Astros history.

And although many fans here will never forget the three-run shot Lidge gave up to the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols in Game 5 of the 2005 NLCS, it should never be forgotten that Lidge was dominant in the 2004 postseason.

Some Astros fans will surely take an interest in Kent and Lidge. But many Houstonians will have more intimate rooting interests in Loney, Beckett, Crawford and Kazmir, kids who were developed in area Little Leagues and high schools.

Beckett, a graduate of Spring High, and Crawford, a Davis High graduate, were drafted out of high school in 1999. Three years later, Elkins High’s Loney and Cy Falls’ Kazmir were picked.

Beckett already has two World Series rings, one for helping his Marlins beat Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte’s Yankees in the 2003 World Series and another one for helping the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series.

Crawford, who was activated from the disabled list Friday after missing several weeks with a finger injury, and Kazmir have never participated in the postseason. Loney, 24, made his postseason debut as a 22-year-old in the 2006 Division Series.

“It’s definitely a great atmosphere playing in those games,” Loney told the Chronicle via phone Saturday. “For me at the young age to get that experience (in 2006) can’t hurt me.”

Loney was hitting .292 with 13 homers and a team-high 90 RBIs entering Saturday. Astros manager Cecil Cooper predicts the 6-3, 220-pounder will develop more power in his sweet lefthanded stroke as he gains more experience and fills out.

Sure, Manny Ramirez has given the Dodgers a big boost since he was acquired from the Red Sox at the trading deadline.

“It’s definitely fun playing with them at this level,” Loney said of the former Jacksonville teammates. “I’m sure everybody thought about (reaching the major league playoffs together) back then. Obviously, you’ve just got to get that opportunity to see what you can do.”

Loney and his Dodgers have that chance now, and he’d definitely love to finish his postseason run against Beckett’s Red Sox’s or Kazmir’s Rays because that would mean a trip to the World Series.

“I think that would probably be a nice matchup as far as the Houston area is concerned,” he said. “I haven’t talked to them about the playoffs, but I think it’s great for the city. I think it shows the level of competition that we play at.”

Marlins marvel

The Florida Marlins may be the National League team that surprised the most folks , staying in postseason contention until last week despite a $22 million payroll .

“When you talk about if you’re ready to win or not, when you looked at this team in black and white, it didn’t look like they should be where they were,” Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest told the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. “The ERA was high; the errors were high. The strikeouts were extremely high.

“They found a way. The expectation was to play (in the postseason) . We’re not going to do it, but the development of this team, the health of this team, especially in the starting pitching, all those things are very positive.”

Fading after fast start

Arizona, which won the 2007 NL West title, was 17-5 against division foes while posting a 20-8 record in April.

“After the first month, we couldn’t put together anything that resembled the type of production that would suggest a 20-8 first month,” manager Bob Melvin told the East Valley Tribune. “It’s been disappointing. ”